Display sign



A M E L K N .Iw

DISPLAY SIGN Filed Oct. 10, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l @N SAE' J. N. KLIEMA DI SPLAY SIGN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 10, 1955 .zf 5 3 LB 5T 3/ awe rm Patented Mar. 31, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT orrrci:

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a display sign and has relation more particularly to a sign of a changeable exhibitor type, and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide a sign with relatively movable members, said members making different displays when adjusted into difierent assemblies.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a sign of this kind comprising stationary paddles and movable paddles, the movable paddles when in one position coacting with the stationary paddles to complete one display and said movable paddles when in a second position coacting with each other to provide another display.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind comprising a plurality of paddles certain of which being fixedly mounted and the others mounted for movement with respect to the first named paddles and to each other and wherein the mounting for each of the paddles is such to permit the same to be readily removed when desired so that different combinations of paddles may be employed as the character of the display may necessitate.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved display sign whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:--

Figure l is a view in elevation of a sign con structed in accordance With an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a view in rear elevation of the structure as illustrated in Figure l Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure l but illustrating certain of the paddles in a second position;

Figure 4 a a view in top plan of the device as illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view in end elevation of a pair of associated paddles illustrating in detail the manner herein disclosed whereby one paddle interlocks with the other;

Figure 6 is a fraentary elevational view illustrating a paddle constructed in accordance with another embodiment of my invention;

Figure l is a view in front elevation of a sign constructed in accordance with another embodimerit;

Figure 8 is a view in rear elevation of the structure as illustrated in Figure 'l Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line Bt of Figure 7.

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, the sign comprises a base i of suitable dimensions and which is adapted to be mounted or placed as desired. 5 One end portion of the base carries an upstanding plate 2 and mounted, as at 3, upon the base i to the rear of the plate 2 is a worm wheel l. Meshing with this worm wheel 4 ice, worm 5 driven by the motor M, preferably of an electrical type.

The lower portion of the plate 2 has disposed transversely thereacross and extending beyond opposite sides thereof an elongated strip t upon which is adapted to be arranged a suitable display i, such display as herein illustrated consti tuting the words (in sale. The plate 2 has secured to its rear face at opposite sides thereof the outwardly opening socket members d and ii. These socket members are arranged in pairs in substantially transverse alignment with the socket members 8 lowermost. The axes of the socket members 8, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, are angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal axes of the socket members ll. Each. of these socket members i is adapted to receive the offset shanks it of the elongated paddles ll. ll'he ofiset ll of each of the paddles Ill operatively engaged with a lower socket member 8 is of an extent to position the paddle Ill in advance or the plate 2 and in the path of travel of one of the lower swinging paddles it so that When said paddle i5 is in its lowered position it will closely approach the lower paddle it so that the displays carried by the outer faces 35 of said paddles ll and Ill will combine or harmonize to produce a readily discernible display.

When the lower swinging paddles It are at the limit of their upward swinging movement they are substantially vertically disposed with to adjacent margins in close contact and when in such position display matter lower carried by the outer faces of these paddles lb combine or harmonize to afford a second discernible display. In other words, when each of the paddles it w is in its lowermost position it combines with a lower lateral paddle it to provide what may be termed a panel for one display and when the swinging paddles it are in their uppermost or vertical position they provide what may be dd termed a second panel for another display. However, no one oi the paddles carries a complete display but must of necessity co-operate with a second paddle for such complete display.

The inner end portion of each of the paddles it I it is extended by a shank it as indicated by broken lines in Figure 1 for insertion within an outwardly opening socket member ll. s member H has its outer corner at its closed or inner I end fired to a shaft lid for rocking movement 6d with said shaft. This shaft is rotatably disposed through and supported by the plate 2. The offset I2 connecting the shank I with an upper paddle II is of an extent to position said applied upper paddle II in advance of the plate 2 but inwardly of and out of the path of travel of the paddles I5 but within the path of travel of the upper swinging paddles I9. Each of these paddles I9 when in its lowered position registers with an upper side paddle II and when at the limit of its upward movement is in close contact with the second upper paddle I9 and in a vertically disposed position. The outer faces of the paddles I5 and I9 are provided with display matter properly combining or harmonizing when the paddles I9 are in lowered position, and said paddles I9 are also provided with additional matter properly combining or harmonizing when said paddles I9 are at the limit of their upward movement.

The paddles I9 are also provided at their inner ends with the shanks as indicated by broken lines in Figure 1 which are received within the socket members 2 I, the outer corners of which at the inner or closed ends thereof being fixed to and rocking with the shafts 22. These shafts 22 are also disposed through and supported by the plate 2 and each of these shafts 22 is positioned a desired distance above and substantially in vertical alignment with a shaft I8 hereinbefore referred to.

The portions of the shafts I8 and 22 extending beyond the rear face of the plate 2 are operatively connected for unitary rocking movement and for which purpose, as illustrated in Figure 2, the rear portions of the shafts I8 are provided with the upstanding rock arms 23 connected by the links 24 with the bell crank levers 25 fixed to the rear portions of the shafts 22. The bell crank levers 25 have inner arms connected by the links 26 with a rock arm 21 supported by the plate 2 as are also the bell crank levers 25. This rock arm 21, as illustrated in Figure 2, has operatively engaged therewith a rod 28 which is eccentrically connected, as at 29, with the worm wheel 4 hereinbefore referred to.

As the wheel 4 rotates the paddles I5 and I9 will be caused to oscillate and at a frequency determined by the speed of rotation of the worm wheel 4. The paddles I5 and I9 reach their limits of swinging movement in either direction a time before the pivotal connection 29 reaches a vertical center so that during the period required for the connection 29 to pass beyond such vertical center the paddles I5 and I9 will be maintained stationary and thus assuring an effective display.

While the accompanying drawings disclose a particular system of levers for operating the paddles l5 and I9, it is to be understood that it is within the scope of the invention to provide a combination of levers other than that illustrated and herein described and I, therefore, wish to particularly state at this time that the exact means for effecting the oscillation of the paddles l5 and I9 and more particularly their associated socket members 8 and 9 forms no particular part of the present invention.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 the display matter on the paddles II, I5 and I9 pertains to merchandise generally found on sale in grocery stores or the like but I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to this particular character of display or to the particular words illustrated by the drawings.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, the outer end portions of the paddles I9 carry the laterally directed extension plates 30 upon which any suitable matter may be produced. For example, should the paddles I9 when in their vertical position have a combination identifying an oil company, these extension plates 36 may have produced thereon the words Oil" and/or Gas. The uses to which my improved sign may be put are many and as for a further example, I wish to say that it can also be constructed for use at railroad crossings and when so used as illustrated in Figure 6, each of the paddles 3I, either movable or immovable, in addition to the desired display or warning will carry an illumihating unit 32 such as an electric bulb so that the sign or signal will be readily observed after nightfall.

Figure 5 is a view in plan illustrating the outer ends of the paddles I5 and each of the paddles II is also formed in the same manner as each of these paddles I5. As disclosed in this Figure 5, one longitudinal margin of the paddle I5 is formed to provide an elongated socket 33 and having its opposite longitudinal marginal portion provided therealong with an offset flange or tongue 34. When the paddles I5 are in their fully raised position, as illustrated in Figure 3, the flange or tongue 34 of one paddle will be received within the longitudinal socket 33 of the second paddle as clearly illustrated in Figure 5, thus assuring the complemental paddles being maintained in a fixed position one with respect to the other for enhancing the desired display. Such an arrangement is equally true with respect to the oscillating paddles I9. The paddles II along their marginal portions are each formed to provide a longitudinally disposed socket similar to the socket 33 to receive the tongue or flange 34 of a paddle I5 or I9 when such oscillating paddle is at the limit of its movement toward a stationary paddle.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the upstanding plate 2' has extending thereacross for a desired distance beyond opposite sides thereof an elongated strip or plate 35, the upper marginal portion of which being defined by an upstanding flange or tongue 36 which provides a runway for a slide plate or elongated member 31. The lower marginal portion of this plate or member 31 has extending therealong a socket 38 which receives the tongue or flange 36 whereby the plate or member 31 is permitted to have reciprocating movement in a fixed path of travel. The plate or member 31 is of a length materially less than the plate or member and the opposite end portions of this member or plate 35 carry the upstanding paddles 39. The extremities of the member or plate 35 are also provided with the upstanding paddles 49 and adjacent paddles 39 and 40 are provided on their outer faces with suitable matter which, when a pair of paddles 39 and 40 are substantially in contact, provides a desired display. As is believed to be clearly understood from Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings, when one pair of paddles 39 and 40 are substantially in contact to effect a display the pair of paddles 39 and 40 at the opposite ends of the plates or members 35 and 31 are separated.

The outer faces of the members or plates 31 in central portions thereof are provided with suitable matter which, when a member or plate 31 is at the limit of its movement in one direction,

combine or harmonize to provide a desired display.

Mounted upon the base plate or member I is a motor M positioned rearwardly of the plate 2' and which motor is also preferably of an electrical type. This motor M operates a worm b which meshes with a worm wheel 4'. This worm wheel has operatively connected thereto an end portion of a rod or pitman 28, the opposite end portion of which being operatively connected to an end portion of the member or plate 31. As the worm wheel 4' rotates the member or plate 31 will be caused to reciprocate whereby the desired displays are alternately produced in time sequence at the opposite end portions of the member or plate 3'1.

While the accompanying drawings particularly illustrate a worm and gear drive, it is to be understood that other means may be employed with equal facility to effect the desired operation of the paddles. For example, the gear 4 may be in the nature of a disk mounted directly upon the drive shaft of the motor or I can employ substantially the same driving means as illustrated in my Patent 2,012,468 which issued August 27, 1935.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a display sign constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:--

1. A sign of the class described comprising paddles, means for supporting said paddles in fixed positions, movable paddles supported for movement toward and from the fixed paddles, complemental faces of the paddles carrying matter combining to provide a display when the movable paddles are at their limit of movement toward the fixed paddles.

2. A sign of the class described comprising paddles, means for supporting said paddles in fixed positions, movable paddles supported for movement toward and from the fixed paddles, complemental faces of the paddles carrying matter combining to provide a display when the movable paddles are at their limit of movement toward the fixed paddles and when the movable paddles are at their limit of movement toward each other.

3. A sign of the class described comprising a fixed paddle, a movablepaddle, means for supporting said movable paddle for movement toward or from the fixed paddle, means for intermittently moving the movable paddle toward and from the fixed paddle, complemental faces of the fixed paddle and movable paddle having matter combining to provide a display when said paddles are at the limit of their-movements one toward the other.

4. A display sign comprising an upstanding plate, paddles carried by and extending beyond opposite sides of the plate, paddles pivotally connected to the plate and also extending beyond opposite sides thereof, and means for swinging the second paddles into close contact with the first named paddles and also moving said second paddles in the opposite direction to bring said movable paddles into. close contact, the outer faces of the first named paddles and the swinging paddles having matter thereon combining to produce a display when the movable paddles are in close contact with the first named paddles and also to provide display when the movable paddles are in close contact one with the other.

5. A display sign comprising an upstanding plate, paddles carried by and extending beyond opposite sides of the plate, paddles pivotally connected to the plate and also extending beyond opposite sides thereof, and means for swinging the second paddles into close contact with the first named paddles and also moving said second paddles in the opposite direction to bring said movable paddles into close contact, the outer faces of the first named paddles and the swinging paddles having matter thereon combining to produce a display when the movable paddles are in close contact with the first named paddles and also to provide display when the movable paddles are in close contact one with the other, said paddles when in close contact one with the other being substantially vertically disposed.

6. A display sign comprising an upstanding plate, paddles carried by and extending beyond opposite sides of the plate, paddles pivotally connected to the plate and also extending beyond opposite sides thereof, and means for swinging the second paddles into close contact with the first named paddles and also moving said second paddles in the opposite direction to bring said movable paddles into close contact, the outer faces of the first named paddles and the swinging paddles having matter thereon combining to produce a display when the movable paddles are in close contact with the first named paddles and also to provide display when the movable paddles are in close contact one with the other, the first named paddles and the second named paddles having means interlocking when the second paddles are in close contact with the first named paddles.

7. A display sign comprising an upstanding plate, paddles carried by and extending beyond opposite sides of the plate, paddles pivotally connected to the plate and also extending beyond opposite sides thereof, and means for swinging the second paddles into close contact with the first named paddles and also moving said second paddles in the opposite direction to bring said movable paddles into close contact, the outer faces of the first named paddles and the swinging paddles having matter thereon combining to produce a display when the movable paddles are in close contact with the first named paddles and also to provide display when the movable paddles are in close contact one with the other, the first named paddles and the second. named paddles having means interlocking when the second paddles are in close contact with the first named paddles, said second paddles also having means interlocking when said second paddles are in close contact one with the other,

8. A sign of the class described comprising paddles, means for supporting said padles in.

fixed positions, movable paddles supported for movement toward and from the fixed paddles, complemental faces of the paddles carrying matter combining to provide a display when the movable paddles are at their limit of movement toward the fixed paddles, and an illuminating unit carried by a paddle.

, JOSEPH N. KLEMA, 

